Remedy vs. Cure — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 7, 2024
A remedy provides relief or alleviation from symptoms of a condition, while a cure completely eradicates the disease or condition.
Difference Between Remedy and Cure
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A remedy refers to any treatment, therapy, or medicine that alleviates symptoms or promotes recovery from an illness or ailment. Remedies can range from over-the-counter medications and homeopathic treatments to rest and hydration. On the other hand, a cure is a solution or treatment that completely resolves a health issue, eliminating the underlying cause of the disease and restoring the individual to full health. Cures are definitive and often sought in medical research, especially for chronic and life-threatening diseases.
While remedies are widely used in daily life for common ailments such as headaches, colds, and minor injuries, offering temporary relief and support, cures are celebrated breakthroughs in medicine that can lead to the eradication of diseases like smallpox or the complete remission of certain types of cancer. Remedies play a crucial role in symptom management and palliative care, making conditions more bearable for patients, whereas cures aim to eliminate the need for ongoing treatment by resolving the health issue at its source.
The pursuit of remedies is an ongoing aspect of healthcare, providing immediate relief and support for a wide range of conditions, from mild to severe. Remedies can be simple, like using ice for inflammation, or more complex, like medication regimens for chronic diseases. Cures, however, often require significant scientific research and clinical trials to develop effective treatments that can guarantee the complete elimination of a disease.
Choosing between a remedy and seeking a cure depends on the nature of the health issue and its potential for being completely resolved. For many chronic conditions, effective cures may not yet be available, making remedies the primary option for managing symptoms and maintaining quality of life. In contrast, for diseases with known cures, the goal is always to treat the patient with the intention of achieving a permanent resolution.
The development of both remedies and cures is critical to healthcare, with remedies providing necessary immediate relief and cures aiming for long-term solutions. The effectiveness of a remedy or cure is determined by its ability to address the symptoms or the root cause of a condition, contributing to the overall well-being and health of individuals.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Purpose
Alleviates symptoms and provides relief
Completely eradicates the disease or condition
Duration
Temporary relief; may require ongoing use
Permanent resolution; no further treatment needed
Focus
Symptom management and comfort
Elimination of the underlying cause
Application
Common for everyday ailments and chronic conditions
Sought for definitive treatment of diseases
Examples
Pain relievers, home remedies, hydration
Antibiotics for bacterial infections, cancer remissions
Compare with Definitions
Remedy
Symptom Relief
Drinking ginger tea is a popular remedy for soothing an upset stomach.
Cure
Disease Eradication
The polio vaccine was a major cure, leading to the near eradication of the disease.
Remedy
Over-the-Counter
Antihistamines are a common remedy for allergy symptoms.
Cure
Surgical Interventions
Appendectomy is a surgical cure for appendicitis.
Remedy
Lifestyle Changes
Regular exercise is an effective remedy for reducing stress and improving mental health.
Cure
Antibiotic Treatments
A course of antibiotics can cure bacterial infections like strep throat.
Remedy
Homeopathic Treatments
Arnica is used in homeopathy as a remedy for bruises and muscle soreness.
Cure
Medical Breakthroughs
Breakthroughs in hepatitis C treatments have led to cures for many patients.
Remedy
Palliative Care
Hospice care uses various remedies to provide comfort to terminally ill patients.
Cure
Gene Therapy
Certain gene therapies offer potential cures for genetic disorders.
Remedy
A medicine or treatment for a disease or injury
Herbal remedies for aches and pains
Cure
Relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition
He was cured of the disease
Remedy
The margin within which coins as minted may differ from the standard fineness and weight.
Cure
Preserve (meat, fish, tobacco, or an animal skin) by salting, drying, or smoking
Home-cured ham
Remedy
Set right (an undesirable situation)
Money will be given to remedy the poor funding of nurseries
Cure
A parish priest in a French-speaking country.
Remedy
Something, such as a drug or a bandage, that is used to treat a symptom, disease, injury, or other condition.
Cure
A drug or course of medical treatment used to restore health
Discovered a new cure for ulcers.
Remedy
Something that corrects an evil, fault, or error.
Cure
Restoration of health; recovery from disease
The likelihood of cure.
Remedy
(Law) The means of obtaining redress of a wrong or enforcement of a right.
Cure
Something that corrects or relieves a harmful or disturbing situation
The cats proved to be a good cure for our mouse problem.
Remedy
The allowance by a mint for deviation from the standard weight or quality of coins.
Cure
(Ecclesiastical) Spiritual charge or care, as of a priest for a congregation.
Remedy
To relieve or cure (a disease or disorder).
Cure
The office or duties of a curate.
Remedy
To counteract or rectify (a problem, mistake, or undesirable situation).
Cure
The act or process of preserving a product.
Remedy
Something that corrects or counteracts.
Cure
A parish priest, especially in a French-speaking community.
Remedy
(legal) The legal means to recover a right or to prevent or obtain redress for a wrong.
Cure
To cause to be free of a disease or unhealthy condition
Medicine that cured the patient of gout.
Remedy
A medicine, application, or treatment that relieves or cures a disease.
Cure
To cause to be free of, to lose interest in, or to stop doing something
A remark that cured me of the illusion that I might be a good singer.
A bad reaction that cured him of the desire to smoke cigars.
A visit to the dentist that cured her of eating sweets.
Remedy
The accepted tolerance or deviation in fineness or weight in the production of gold coins etc.
Cure
To eliminate (a disease, for example) from the body by medical or other treatment; cause recovery from
New antibiotics to cure infections.
Remedy
(transitive) To provide or serve as a remedy for.
Cure
To remove or remedy (something harmful or disturbing)
Cure a social evil.
Remedy
That which relieves or cures a disease; any medicine or application which puts an end to disease and restores health; - with for; as, a remedy for the gout.
Cure
To preserve (meat, for example), as by salting, smoking, or aging.
Remedy
That which corrects or counteracts an evil of any kind; a corrective; a counteractive; reparation; cure; - followed by for or against, formerly by to.
What may else be remedy or cureTo evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,He will instruct us.
Cure
To prepare, preserve, or finish (a substance) by a chemical or physical process.
Remedy
The legal means to recover a right, or to obtain redress for a wrong.
Cure
To vulcanize (rubber).
Remedy
To apply a remedy to; to relieve; to cure; to heal; to repair; to redress; to correct; to counteract.
I will remedy this gear ere long.
Cure
To effect a cure or recovery
A drug that cures without side effects.
Remedy
Act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil
Cure
To be prepared, preserved, or finished by a chemical or physical process
Hams curing in the smokehouse.
Remedy
A medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain
Cure
A method, device or medication that restores good health.
Remedy
Set straight or right;
Remedy these deficiencies
Rectify the inequities in salaries
Repair an oversight
Cure
Act of healing or state of being healed; restoration to health after a disease, or to soundness after injury.
Remedy
Provide relief for;
Remedy his illness
Cure
(figurative) A solution to a problem.
Cure
A process of preservation, as by smoking.
Cure
A process of solidification or gelling.
Cure
(engineering) A process whereby a material is caused to form permanent molecular linkages by exposure to chemicals, heat, pressure and/or weathering.
Cure
(obsolete) Care, heed, or attention.
Cure
Spiritual charge; care of soul; the office of a parish priest or of a curate.
Cure
That which is committed to the charge of a parish priest or of a curate.
Cure
(transitive) To restore to health.
Unaided nature cured him.
Cure
(transitive) To bring (a disease or its bad effects) to an end.
Unaided nature cured his ailments.
Cure
(transitive) To cause to be rid of (a defect).
Experience will cure him of his naïveté.
Cure
(transitive) To prepare or alter especially by chemical or physical processing for keeping or use.
The smoke and heat cures the meat.
Cure
To preserve (food), typically by salting. is this sense distinct from the preceding one? another example might be useful
Cure
(intransitive) To bring about a cure of any kind.
Cure
(intransitive) To be undergoing a chemical or physical process for preservation or use.
The meat was put in the smokehouse to cure.
Cure
(intransitive) To solidify or gel.
The parts were curing in the autoclave.
Cure
To become healed.
Cure
(obsolete) To pay heed; to care; to give attention.
Cure
Care, heed, or attention.
Of study took he most cure and most heed.
Vicarages of greatcure, but small value.
Cure
Spiritual charge; care of soul; the office of a parish priest or of a curate; hence, that which is committed to the charge of a parish priest or of a curate; a curacy; as, to resign a cure; to obtain a cure.
The appropriator was the incumbent parson, and had the cure of the souls of the parishioners.
Cure
Medical or hygienic care; remedial treatment of disease; a method of medical treatment; as, to use the water cure.
Cure
Act of healing or state of being healed; restoration to health from disease, or to soundness after injury.
Past hope! pastcure! past help.
I do cures to-day and to-morrow.
Cure
Means of the removal of disease or evil; that which heals; a remedy; a restorative.
Cold, hunger, prisons, ills without a cure.
The proper cure of such prejudices.
Cure
A curate; a pardon.
Cure
To heal; to restore to health, soundness, or sanity; to make well; - said of a patient.
The child was cured from that very hour.
Cure
To subdue or remove by remedial means; to remedy; to remove; to heal; - said of a malady.
To cure this deadly grief.
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power . . . to cure diseases.
Cure
To set free from (something injurious or blameworthy), as from a bad habit.
I never knew any man cured of inattention.
Cure
To prepare for preservation or permanent keeping; to preserve, as by drying, salting, etc.; as, to cure beef or fish; to cure hay.
Cure
To pay heed; to care; to give attention.
Cure
To become healed.
One desperate grief cures with another's languish.
Cure
A medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain
Cure
Provide a cure for, make healthy again;
The treatment cured the boy's acne
The quack pretended to heal patients but never managed to
Cure
Prepare by drying, salting, or chemical processing in order to preserve;
Cure meats
Cure pickles
Cure
Make (substances) hard and improve their usability;
Cure resin
Cure
Be or become preserved;
The apricots cure in the sun
Common Curiosities
What is a remedy?
A remedy is a treatment or action that alleviates symptoms or promotes recovery from an illness, without necessarily eradicating the underlying cause.
How do doctors decide between a remedy and a cure?
Doctors consider the nature of the illness, available treatments, and the patient's overall health and preferences when deciding between a remedy and seeking a cure.
What constitutes a cure?
A cure is a treatment that completely resolves a health issue, eliminating the disease or condition at its root and restoring full health.
Why are cures not available for all diseases?
Cures are not available for all diseases due to the complex nature of many conditions, limitations in current medical knowledge, and challenges in research and development.
Can a remedy become a cure?
In some cases, remedies can lead to a cure, especially if they address the underlying cause of a condition effectively over time. However, this is not always the case.
Can lifestyle changes be considered remedies?
Yes, lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and stress management can be effective remedies for improving symptoms of various conditions.
Are natural remedies effective?
Natural remedies can be effective for symptom relief and mild conditions, but their efficacy varies and they may not provide cures for more serious diseases.
Are cures always permanent?
Cures are intended to be permanent, resolving the disease completely, but in some cases, there may be a risk of recurrence depending on the condition.
What role do remedies play in chronic disease management?
Remedies play a crucial role in chronic disease management by alleviating symptoms, improving quality of life, and sometimes slowing the progression of the disease.
Is palliative care a form of remedy?
Yes, palliative care is considered a form of remedy as it focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Aesthetic vs. Ascetic
Next Comparison
Jersey vs. GuernseyAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
